KUALA LUMPUR: A truck laden with firecrackers and fireworks worth nearly RM100,000 were stopped by the Royal Malaysian Customs authorities at Kampung Guntung Dalam near Setiu, Terengganu.
It is believed that all the fireworks were smuggled in from Thailand and were to be brought to the Klang Valley in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
Based on information, authorities managed to detect the lorry at the Kelantan-Terengganu border before tailing it.
It is learned that the lorry driver and his assistant were directed to stop but resisted until they eventually pulled over at the village around 9.15pm.
Kelantan Custom’s deputy director Nasir Yusoff said one of the suspects involved in the incident was a 41-year-old local man, believed to have been hired to bring the supplies to the west coast.
“Actually, we chased the lorry for approximately two kilometers before we managed to arrest them at about 9.15pm.
“We seized 178 boxes of firecrackers and fireworks worth RM 93,880.
“It is believed that the firecrackers and fireworks were meant for the KL market for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
“We detained the truck driver and his assistant for further investigation and the case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) (e) of the Customs Act 1967.
“If found guilty they could be fined 10 times the value of the goods or sentenced to three years’ jail or both,” he added.
